Vehicle-wheel.



PATENTED SEPT. 15, 1903.

L. BIAVA.

VEHICLE WHEEL.

APPLICATION FILED NOV; 2a, 1902.

no MODEL.

EIG44.

F'IG.3.

Hue/sacs UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

Patented September 15, 1903.

LOUIS BIAVA, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

VEHICLE-WHEEL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 739,053, datedSeptember 15, 19.03. Application filed November 28, 1902. Serial No.133,079. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LOUIS BIAVA, a subject of the King of-Italy,residing at New York, in

thereof as will enable said wheels to elfec tually cushion the vehicleagainst the shock resulting from its propulsion over rough or unevenroads or surfaces, in this respect obviating the use of pneumatic orother similar tires.

The invention possesses none of the specific defects of pneumatic tires,inasmuch as its efficacy cannot be affected by the sharp edges or pointsof articles-such as bits of glass,-

carpet-tacks, nails, &c.-which frequentlydeprive such tires of theirresiliency by reason of incisions or punctures made therein.v

In the drawings, Figure l is a side elevation of myimproved wheel. Fig.2 is asimilar view showing modifications of my invention. Fig. 3 is adiagram illustrative of the effects resulting from the use of myimproved wheel. Fig. 4: is a partial transverse vertical section inperspective through the line a a, Fig. 1; and Figs. 5 and'6.are detailviews.

Corresponding parts in all the figures are denoted by the same referencecharacters.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates a wheel whereof the hub 1,spokes 1", and rim 1 may be of common and well-known forms,

the spokes 1 being in this instance attached to an auxiliary rim or ring2, which is positioned interiorly of the true rim or felly 1 andattached to the latter by means of resilient metallic members or springs8. Said springs 3 may be of any suitable form or design-such, forinstance, as are shown in Fig.

2; but I prefer such as are shown in Figs. 1 and 3, formed of thin steelproperly tempered and circular in cross-section, and they may havecontinuous peripheries,or thelatter may be divided axially and thedivided ends may be lapped one upon the other. It should be particularlynoted that, as shown by reference to Fig. 3, in order to obtain thedesired results from my invention it is essential that the rim or felly1 should be radially rigid-- that is to say, in the direction of theplane of rotation of the wheel 1-and that therefore each of the springs3 will assist in supporting any load which may be imposed upon thehub 1. The springs maybe attached both to'the auxiliary rim or ring 2and the true rim or felly 1 by any suitable means; but I prefer to usefor that purpose, especially in connection with wooden rings andfell'ies,clip-headod screws 4, secured by nuts 4, as shown in Fig.

5. Springseats 5, separable from the springs and preferably made ofmetal, may be interposed between the springs 3 and the rings 2 betweenthe former and the felly 1, where said ring and felly are constructed ofwood.

The periphery of the felly 1 is preferably convex in cross-section, anda strip 6, preferably of soft rubber, is placed around said peripheryand is secured in place by a band or tire 7, preferably of rubber-coatedcanvas, having transversely-perforated edges, the edges or angles of thefelly being similarly perforated. Thongs of leather or wire passedalternately through the perforations inthe tire 7 and in the felly 1serve to draw the former tightly across the soft-rubber strip 6 and tosecurely fastenit in position. (See more particularly Fig; 6.) It isquite evident that various other means within the scope of my inventionmay be used for the purpose mentioned; but I prefer those'abovedescribed. The metallic spring-seats may, if required, be at firstattached to the felly l and ring 2 separately from the springs 3 I bymeans of screws or in any other suitable manner, and the springs 3 mayafterward be attached to the felly 1 and ring 2 diametrally in alinementwith said spring-seats 5.

The uses and advantages of my invention will be readily understood. Avehicle-wheel embodying the improvements herein set forth will possessthe resilience of the tempered steel springs 3, the latter retainingpractically their cylindrical or unflexed form until pressure beapplied, as by weight carried on a vehicle, when they will severallyassume oval or flexed forms, such as shown in broken lines in Fig. 3.Thus, as beforenoted, all of the springs 3 functionally assist eachother, and should one oreven more of them become broken or prove to bedefective the remaining springs 3 may prove to be sufficient for theircombined functional purpose, my invention embodying in this respect animportant improvement upon wheels which have flexible rims. Furthermore,the radial rigid- 'ity of the felly or true rim 1 prevents theflattening of the latter at the part thereof which contacts the ground,thereby insuring a lighter running of the wheel of my invention than ofthe wheels which have flexible rims and which therefore necessarilycontact the ground throughout a relatively greatdistanee, whether thevehicle be or be not in motion.

I am aware that wheels have been constructed hitherto having an innerring and an outer ring with springs interposed therebetween; but theouter ring in such wheels has invariably been not merely preferably butessentially a radially-flexible member, thus in the use of said wheelsincluding the disadvantages which are specifically precluded by the useof my invention. In View ofsuch former construction of wheels, however,I do not claim, broadly, a wheel of the form last described, but onlysuch as is covered by the specific form of my invention as set forth inthe following claims. The rubber tire 7, backedby the soft-rubber strip6, will form a resilient tread for the wheel and will be of such anature as to resist shock caused by the passage of the wheel over minorobstacles and will also possess the function of so engaging aroad-surface as to effectually prevent the slipping of the wheel.thereon. The spring-seats 5, formed separably from the springs 2, takethe thrust of the latter, and thus prevent them from chafing the ring 2or felly l.

I do not desire to be understood as limiting myself to the details ofconstruction and arrangement as herein described and illustrated, as itis manifest that variations and modifications may be made in thefeatures of construction and arrangement in the adaptation of the deviceto various conditions of use without departing from the spirit and scopeof my invention and improvements. I therefore reserve the right to allsuch variation and modification as properly fall within the scope of myinvention and the termsof the following claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim and desire to secureby'Letters Patent 1. A vehicle-wheel comprising a ring attached to theouter ends of the spokes, a radially-rigid felly havinga roundedoutersurface attached to the ring by interposed springs, atransversely-flexible tire attached to and bent over the rounded edge ofthe folly, and a soft-rubber strip interposed between the felly and thetire.

2. A vehicle-wheel comprising a ring attached to the outer ends of thespokes, a radially-rigid felly having a rounded outer surface attachedto the ring by interposed springs, a transversely-flexible tire attachedto and bent over the rounded edge of the felly, and a soft-rubber stripinterposed and compressed between the folly and the tire.

3. A vehicle-wheel comprising a ring attached to the outer ends of thespokes, a radially-rigid felly having a rounded outersurface attached tothe ring by interposed cylindrical springs, a transversely-flexible tireattached to and bent over the rounded edge of the folly, means forsecuring the edges of the tire to the folly, and a soft-rubber stripinterposed between the telly and the tire.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name in the presence of thesubscribing witnesses.

LOUIS BIAVA.

Witnesses:

CHAS. I'I. DAVIDS, J. C. PYBAS.

